Quick question - Interesting buy, or best to avoid?

CABERNET SAUVIGNON NAPA WALLEY 1986 DUNN VINEYARDS Euro 35,00 + 20% local tax

I'm told this would have been made in the older more european/reserved style (and I'm more than happy with leafy cabs such as David Lake's Columbia winery wines).

Where I'm going, I'd normally be interested in the older local wines, but this one jumped out as interesting.

regards
Ian

I'd buy it! I don't have the 86, but do own 85 and 87. Dunn is definitely somewhat old school, with wines that take a long time to come around

Ta for this Dale - and I forgot to say I do like old wines built to last!

Ian,

I can't speak for the Napa Valley, but I had an '86 Dunn Howell Mountain last year that was outstanding. I have one more that I may hold for MoCool next year.

I would err on the side of buying the Napa Valley.

Hey Sam, I sure hope you do, that is bring that 86 to MoCool!

Jim,

I could probably be convinced if a bottle of that Fort Wayne Duval-Leroy happened to show up at MoCool as well!

Ian,

I can't speak for the Napa Valley, but I had an '86 Dunn Howell Mountain last year that was outstanding. I have one more that I may hold for MoCool next year.

I would err on the side of buying the Napa Valley.

Hey Sam,

I just bought some Burgess 2008 Howell mountain cabernet sauvignon. How long before you think it will be ready to drink? I could be convinced to bring some to MoCool next year to compare to your Dunn as long as you don't accuse me of being a 'baby killer'.

That would be a capital offense, Tom. Better target MoCool 2023 for opening the Burgess.

PS: I have always heard good things about the Burgess wines. They have the reputation for being a great QPR.

From my limited experience the napa, unlike the Howell mountain, only needs about 25 years to come around so if it was well stored it's definitely a buy.

That would be a capital offense, Tom. Better target MoCool 2023 for opening the Burgess.

PS: I have always heard good things about the Burgess wines. They have the reputation for being a great QPR.

Hi Sam,

That's what I was guessing, but this was my first purchase of a Howell Mountain wine and some wines mature faster than others. 10 years from now it should be drinking very nicely.

I've put the order in & I'll try to remember to post a TN when we open it.

Almost all wines from the 1980s Californians are now in gentle decline (except for some 87s, which continue to coast), but there are many very drinkable wines and I'd put Dunn into that category - it should be ready drinking now. Sadly, I had a bottle of modern Dunn recently and it was nothing like the huge monsters of the past - early maturing and pleasant. There goes another hero, over the the Other Side!

Let us know how the 86 shows when you get it! (Drank an 85 Clos du Val a few weeks back - lovely still, though not as good as several years ago).

Ian,
Coincidently we just had a vertical tasting Of Dunn Howell Mountain here in Stockholm about three weeks ago. 11 vintages from 2008 to 1988. While we did not go back as far as the 1986, knowing your weakness for mature wines, I would not hesitate to advise you to place an order (as you already have!). These are slowly maturing wines, and in my Facebook post about the tasting I wrote: only the '88 and '89 were something like mature.

Looking forward to your TN,
/Anders

Ian,
Coincidently we just had a vertical tasting Of Dunn Howell Mountain here in Stockholm about three weeks ago. 11 vintages from 2008 to 1988. While we did not go back as far as the 1986, knowing your weakness for mature wines, I would not hesitate to advise you to place an order (as you already have!). These are slowly maturing wines, and in my Facebook post about the tasting I wrote: only the '88 and '89 were something like mature.

'88 and '89 were both weaker, early-maturing vintages in Napa, too. '86 was from a string of good years ('84-'87) that, in Randy Dunn's hands, should make very long-lived wines.

Mark Lipton

At our vertical tasting we were told that Dunn only makes one wine, the Howell Mountain. However, while browsing the upcoming online sale at Christie's I found two different lots of the 1987, one just labeled Dunn Vineyards, Napa Valley while the other one also had Howell Mountain written on the label. Possibly they bottled a basic Napa Valley Cab in the earlier days. Anyone with insight?

Here are the two lots:
http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/wine/dunn-vineyards-cabernet-sauvignon-vintage-1987-6-bottles-5614018-details.aspx?from=salesummary&intObjectID=5614018&sid=7272c8b4-dd46-4dfa-b6c7-971500d2c7ed
http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/wine/dunn-vineyards-howell-mountain-cabernet-sauvignon-vintage-1987-5614020-details.aspx?from=salesummary&intObjectID=5614020&sid=7272c8b4-dd46-4dfa-b6c7-971500d2c7ed

/Anders

Anders,
Dunn definitely makes 2 Cabernet Sauvignons, the regular Napa and the Howell Mtn (unless they have changed in last couple vintages). As far as I know that has been true every vintage since they started (1980), but can't swear to that. He has also made a Petite Sirah in at least some vintages.

Anders,
Dunn definitely makes 2 Cabernet Sauvignons, the regular Napa and the Howell Mtn (unless they have changed in last couple vintages). As far as I know that has been true every vintage since they started (1980), but can't swear to that. He has also made a Petite Sirah in at least some vintages.

OK, Dale, thanks. It might simply be my memory that is unreliable... I'll see if I can find the source of the information I seemed to remember. I might in fact meet him at a tasting tonight. I do remember Petite Sirah being mentioned, mostly as a minor ingredient in the main wine, but possibly also in connection with a unique bottling of this variety.
/Anders

Many thanks for the positive comments!

Hi Anders - apologies I haven't been in chat for a while - hope you're keeping well, but at least I know you're drinking well!

regards
Ian

Anders,
Dunn definitely makes 2 Cabernet Sauvignons, the regular Napa and the Howell Mtn (unless they have changed in last couple vintages). As far as I know that has been true every vintage since they started (1980), but can't swear to that. He has also made a Petite Sirah in at least some vintages.

The MacArthur's barrel tasting program from April lists both but I recall they only actually poured the Howell Mtn. My notes for the tasting from the previous two years are clear in that they only poured the Howell Mtn so while I think they are still making both I am not positive.

Got the 1986 back safely and it's definitely Napa Valley rather than Howell Mountain. Will rest it for a few weeks before opening.

Sam, looking forward to MoCool!!!